world, by prosperous and triumphant wickedness. Faith and patience are therefore recommended upon the double consideration of that sure reward which awaiteth the righteous, and that certain punishment which shall be inflicted on the wicked. These two events are set before us in a variety of expressions, and under many lively and affecting images. As the Psalm is rather a collection of divine aphorisms on the same subject, than a continued and connected discourse, it admitteth of nothing farther in the way of argument.

1. Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

The Holy Spirit here prescribeth a remedy to a very common, and no less dangerous disorder of the mind, namely, a distrust of God's providence, occasioned by frequently beholding the prosperity of the wicked, in this present world. He who alloweth himself time to consider how soon the fairest spring must give place to a burning summer, a blighting autumn, and a killing winter, will no longer envy, but pity the fading verdure of the grass, and the still more transient glories of the flowers of the field. Herbs and plants are medicinal in more senses than one. *

3. Trust in the LORD, and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed: or, dwell in the land, and feed on truth, or, faithfulness.

The consideration of the speedy and tragical end of sinners affordeth a powerful argument for perseverance in faith and holiness; for continuing in the church, and making our abode in the pastures of truth; until in the strength of that sacred viand, we come to the heavenly land of promise, and dwell therein for ever. 4. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

He who delighteth in the creature, hath not always the "desires of his heart" granted, nor is it fit that he should have them; but he who delighteth in God, will desire what he delighteth in, and obtain what he desireth.

5. Commit thy way unto the LORD: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. 6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day.

Malice and calumny may, for a time, overshadow the splendour

* See an elegant and beautiful discourse on "the lilies of the field," published among the Sermons of the late learned, ingenious, and worthy Dr. Tottie.

of

holy character; but the sun will come forth, and the clouds will fly away. This was most eminently true of the blessed Jesus at his resurrection, and will be verified in his saints at the last day. The history of Susannah affordeth a remarkable instance of it, in this life. "Her heart trusted in the Lord, and he brought forth her righteousness as the light; insomuch that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him," ver. 35, 60.

7. Rest in, or, be silent to, the LORD, and wait patiently for him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in the way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

If the spotless Lamb of God was dumb, before those who were devesting him of his honours, and robbing him of his life, “silent" resignation cannot but become one who suffers for his sins. Israel was commanded to "stand still, and see the salvation of God;" but the people gazed upon the pomp and power of Pharaoh, who was in pursuit of them, till their faith failed, and they began to murmur and despond. How often is this our case before we perceive it.

8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9. For evil doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

At the day of judgment, when "evil doers shall be cut off," by the flaming sword of eternal vengeance, and when the saints of the Most High shall "inherit the new earth," the latter will have no emotions of anger or envy against the former. Let them so meditate on that day, as to make it present to their minds, and they will have no such emotions now.

10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

The whole duration of the world itself is but a "little while," in the sight of him, whose hope is full of immortality. But the calamities and deaths of princes; the tragical fate of empires, swept with the besom of destruction; the overthrow of cities, whose dimensions, towers, and palaces once astonished the earth, but whose "place" is now nowhere to be found by the most curious and diligent inquirer; and the desolations of the chosen city Jerusalem; all these are even now sufficient to draw forth the tear of commiseration, and to extinguish the kindling spark of envy in every considerate mind.

11. But the meek shall inherit the earth: and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The "meek" are they who bear their own adversities and the prosperity of their enemies without envy, anger, or complaint. For these there is a possession in the kingdom and city of the Prince of" peace," which" the Lord the righteous judge shall give them at that day. Blessed are the meek," saith that Lord and Judge himself," for they shall inherit the earth," Matt. v. 5. "In the mean time, they, and they only, possess the present earth, as they go towards the kingdom of heaven, by being humble, and cheerful, and content with what their good God has allotted them. They have no turbulent, repining, vexatious thoughts that they deserve better; nor are vexed, when they see others possessed of more honour, or more riches, than their wise God has allotted for their share. But they possess what they have with a meek and contented quietness; such a quietness as makes their very dreams pleasing, both to God and themselves." Walton's Complete Angler, p.

295.

12. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13. The LORD shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming.

The original enmity between the wicked one and the Just One will always subsist between the wicked and the just. The rage of the former against the latter is compared to that of mad dogs, or wild beasts; but a day is coming, when all that rage must be turned and employed against themselves. God, who knoweth this, contemneth their vain efforts; and Christians, who know it, and are under the protection of God, should do the same.

14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation, or, upright of way. 15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bow shall be broken.

The tongue is a "sword," and a "bow" which shooteth its arrows, even bitter words, against the humble and upright, Jesus, and his disciples. But these are not the only weapons that have been drawn against them. How the malice of the Jews returned upon their own heads, no one is ignorant; though few lay it to heart, and consider them as set forth for an example.

19. A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked. 17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

A little, with the blessing of God upon it, is better than a great deal, with the emcumbrance of his curse. His blessing can multiply a mite into a talent, but his curse will shrink a talent to a mite. By him "the arms of the wicked are broken," and by him

"the righteous are upholden;" so that the great question is, whether HE be with us or against us; and the great misfortune is that this question is seldom asked.

18. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

The favour of God is, to them that obtain it, a better and an enduring substance, which, like the widow's barrel and cruse, wasted not in the evil days of famine, nor will fail in that evil day of eternal want, when the foolish virgins shall be calling in vain for oil, and the rich glutton as vainly imploring a drop of water to cool his tongue.

20. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs, they shall consume: into smoke shall they consume away.

The destruction of the wicked is here again set before us, but under a different image, namely, that of a sacrifice. Senseless as cattle that are fatted for the altar, they wanton in their prosperity, and nourish their hearts against the day of slaughter. In the mean time, the Almighty is whetting that sword which nothing can withstand; and those fires are kindling, which shall never be extinguished. See Isai. xxxiv. 6—10.

21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; butthe rightcous showeth mercy and giveth.

The wicked man, like his leader, the "wicked one," payeth not those whose money or abilities he hath occasion to borrow, and to employ in his service; whereas the disciple of Christ, in imitation of his Master, not only punctually observeth the rules of justice and equity, but thinketh it "more blessed to give than to receive." In like manner, though both are indebted for every thing to the bounty of God, the latter maketh all the acknowledgments and returns in his power; while the former never thinketh of making any.

22. For, or, therefore, such as be blessed of him shall inherit the carth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

They who are like their merciful and gracious Lord, and who by their devotion and charity, bless him, are blessed of him; they who are like their cruel and iniquitous master, and who, by their ungodliness, injustice, and hard-heartedness, dishonour their Maker and Redeemer, are cursed of him. To the former therefore it will be said, at the last day, "Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom;" to the latter, "Go, ye cursed, into the fire."

23. The steps of a good man are ordered, Heb. established, ▲ LORD; and he delighteth in his way. 24. Though he fall, he s not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. This was emphatically true of the man Christ, whose steps Jehovah established, and in whose way he delighted; who, "though he fell" by death, yet was raised again by his mighty hand, and outstretched arm. It is true likewise of Christians, whom it should support and comfort in all dangers and temptations. See, for a

parallel, Ps. xci.

25. I have been young, and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread. 26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth: and his seed is blessed.

So far is charity from impoverishing, that what is given away, like vapours emitted by the earth, returns in showers of blessings into the bosom of the person who gave it; and his offspring is not the worse, but infinitely the better for it." The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself," Prov. xi. 25. The bread which endureth, as well as that which perisheth, is his; and the blessings of time are crowned with those of eternity.

27. Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore. 28. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

The justice and mercy of God, the rewards which await the righteous, and the punishments that will, sooner or later, be inflicted on the wicked, are subjects on which, whoever shall frequently meditate," will depart from evil, and do good." "Whatsoever thou takest in hand," saith the wise son of Sirach, "remember the END, and thou shalt never do amiss," Eccles. vii. 36.

30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

66

The word which is here, as in other places innumerable, translated the righteous," is in the singular number, and might therefore be translated "the Righteous One," or, "the Just One," for it is often designed to point him out to us, who is emphatically so styled; whose "mouth" always " spake wisdom," in whose "heart was the law of God," and whose "steps" NEVER declined to evil. Lord, put thy laws into our hearts, that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth may speak; and as the mouth speaks, the hands may act, and the feet may walk.

32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and secketh to slay him.